Women's Golf

UCLA comes back for tie

Defending national champs even with LSU for West title

ERIE, Colo. -- No. 1 ranked UCLA overcame a six-shot deficit entering the day and tied with LSU for first place at the NCAA West Regional at Colorado National Golf Club. The Bruins clinched an NCAA Championship berth with their Regional win, extending their school record to 12 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances.

NCAA WEST REGIONAL

RANK

SCHOOL

SCORE

T1

UCLA

873 (+9)

T1

LSU

873 (+9)

3

Pepperdine

875 (+11)

4

Colorado

877 (+13)

T5

Baylor

879 (+15)

T5

Stanford

879 (+15)

The victory is Hall of Fame coach Carrie Forsyth's 47th win as UCLA head coach and the seventh tournament win for the Bruins this year, which also ties a school record. The Bruins also recorded seven team victories back in 2003-04 and 2008-09. In addition, this marks the seventh time in Forsyth's tenure that the Bruins have won the NCAA Regional title, with the team winning in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

UCLA shot a final round score of 287 (-1) to finish tied with LSU at 873 (+9). LSU shot a final round 292 (+4). Both teams finished two strokes ahead of third place Pepperdine, who posted a total of 875 (+11). UCLA, LSU and Pepperdine will all move on to the NCAA championship in Cool Springs, Tenn. at the Legends Golf Club along with the following teams from the West Regional: Colorado, Baylor, Stanford, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

Individually, sophomore Ani Gulugian led the way for UCLA with a final round 71 (-1) to finish at 216 (E) for the tournament, putting her in a tie for sixth place. It was Gulugian's fifth top-10 finish of the season. She started out on hole 10 and played the back nine at one-under par after recording birdies on holes 10 and 17. She then played the front nine at even par to tie for the lowest round of the day for the Bruins.

Senior Brianna Do also put together a great round, equaling Gulugian with a final round 71 (-1) to finish with a total score of 220 (+4), good for a tie for 16th place. Do also began on hole 10 and played a stellar back nine, shooting one-under par with no bogeys. Both Gulugian and Do's rounds were key in helping the Bruins overcome their six shot deficit entering the day.

Freshman Erynne Lee posted a solid round as well, recording a final round 72 (E) to end the Regional with a total score of 220 (+4) and finish in a tie for 16th. Junior Lee Lopez shot a 73 (+1) for her final round to finish in a tie for 35th place at 223 (+7). Finally, junior Tiffany Lua shot a final round 75 (+3) to finish tied for 41st at 224 (+8).

"We had a very good team round today of -1, which helped us make up a six shot deficit and tie for first place with LSU," head coach Carrie Forsyth said. "Great performances this week from Ani Gulugian and Brianna Do really kept us in the tournament and eventually to the #1 seeding for the NCAA Championship. It was a tough condition again today, with very cold weather, but we managed to score well."

The NCAA championships will take place from Tuesday, May 22nd to Friday, May 25th in Cool Springs, Tenn. at the Legends Golf Club. The tournament format will be 72 holes of stroke play with five players counting four scores for the team competition.